Gay Travel: Tongzhi and More In Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, see all kinds of ships. Yet a fleet of vessels one early October day in 2012 carried no ordinary cargo or Hong Kong denizens, a.k.a. Hongkies, in casual local-speak. Indeed, these junk boats were packed with celebrating queers of all ages, backgrounds, and genders.

It was Pink Season, a three-month-long series of LGBT events running from September through November, and this fabulous boat-stravagazna, dubbed Floatilla, is a six-year-old HK tradition. Pink Season’s calendar of events also includes the Mr. Gay Hong Kong pageant, whose winner can go on to compete in Mr. Gay World; Gay Day at Hong Kong Disneyland; the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival; a family-friendly beach picnic; and plenty of exhibitions, performances, panels, pub nights, and parties, like the inaugural Realm at underground arts space, XXX Gallery.